Winding indicator and limiting mechanism



L. BORNFRIEND WINDING INDICATOR AND LIMITING MECHANISM Filed July 7, 1928 "HHHHWII I INVE/JTOR.

Lamb's Bammframd BY w Patented Nov. 28, 1933 UNITED STATES WINDING INBICATOR AND LIMITING MECHANISM Louis Bornfriend, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application July 7, 1928.

7 Claims.

"This invention relates to a winding indicator and limiting mechanism for watches, clocks, phonographs and other devices operated by springs, and which is designed to indicate continuously and exactly the extent to which the spring is wound and to limit the ampl "'ie of operation of the spring particularly limiting the winding and running down beyond a desired point.

The principal object of this invention is to vide an improved winding indicator and limiting mechanism which can be located specifically in small wrist watches without increasing thei size and which'is simple in construction, efficient in action and manufacturable at a reasonable cost.

Another object of this invention is to provide a Winding indicator and limiting mechan 'n cperable by a small-train of gears of conventional form which remain permanently in mesh and require a minutely small quantity of power to operate so as to practically have no influence on the operation of the device to which it applied.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the object and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features or the invention are more particularly set forth.

For the purpose of distinction and brevity, will refer to the following description and particularly to a wrist watch of standard type without intending however to limit the invention to any particular type of mechanism.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig; 1 is a face View of a wrist watch having the invention applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view showing the winding mechanism of the wrist watch mainspring and indicator, and taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view, taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a detail View of the planetary gearing, seen looking in the direction of the line 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a detail view of the indicating and limiting mechanism seen looking in the direction Serial No. 291,097

mounted on a solid arbor 19 rotatively mounted between plates 13 and 14.

A click 20 is pivotally mounted on the plate 14 and is pressed into engagement with the gear 17 by a spring 21 attached to the plate 14, and is arranged for limiting the rotation of gear 17 in one direction. Rotatively mounted on the hollow arbor 18 is a spring barrel 22 and a mainspring 23 is mounted in the barrel and has its outer end attached on the barrel and its inner end attached on the hollow arbor 18.

Secured on the gear 16 is a second gear 24 meshing with an idler gear 25 rotatively mounted on the plate 14, and meshing with a gear 26 fixed on the solid arbor 19. Immediately above the spring barrel 22, and fixed on the arbor 19 is a gear 2? meshing with a gear 28 rotatively mounted on the barrel 22, and a gear 29 is fixed on the gear 28 and meshing with a gear 30 rotatively mounted on the solid arbor 19.

An indicator wheel 31 is rotatively mounted on the plate 13, and has a teeth section 32 meshing with the gear 30. An indicator hand 33 is fixed on this wheel and acts over a scale 34 formed on the dial 12. The angular size of the graduated scale 34 corresponds with the teeth section 32 so that the indicator hand 33 is limited to move ments on the graduated scale only.

In the operation of the device, the stem 11 is turned for winding the mainspring of the watch and for registering the winding by motion of the indicator hand 33 on the scale 34. As the stem 11 is turned the motion is transmitted to pinion 15, gear 16, gear 1'7, hollow arbor 18 and the spring 23. The click 20 permits winding of the mainspring 23, but restrains unwinding. ,The spring barrel 22 is provided with teeth 22 adapted for connection for driving the train of the wrist watch. Since the gear 24 is fixed to the gear 16 it will rotate therewith and the motion will be transmitted to idler 25, gear 26, solid arbor l9, gear 27, gear 28, gear 29, gear 30, wheel 31 and then to the indicator hand 33 which will register on the scale 34 to what extent the spring is wound. When the main spring 23 is wound to the extent limited by the teeth sections 32, the indicator hand will point to the numeral 24 on the scale 34.

When the watch is running, the uncoiling main spring 23 rotates the barrel 22 the same number of revolutions and in the same direction as the hollow arbor 18 rotated while winding. Gear 27 remains stationary. The rotating barrel 22 carries with it the gears 28, 29. Since gear 28 meshes with gear 27, it also rotates around its axis and will impart rotary movement to the gears 29, 30, 31 and the indicator hand 33 will move over the scale 34 in the direction 20, 16, 12 etc. to register the unwinding. When the main spring will be unwound to the extent limited by the teeth section 32, the indicator hand will point to zero on the scale 34. The gears 16, 17, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 and 31 are of such sizes that indicator hand 33 moves from a starting point, in one direction while winding, and in the opposite direction and back to 'the starting point, while unwinding.

In order to make the invention more clearly understandable, I will cite the following example showing a specific case of my invention as carried into practical efiect:--Assume gear 16 has thirty teeth, gear 17 has sixty teeth, gear 24 has thirty teeth, gear has any number of teeth, gear 26 has sixty teeth, gear 27 has eight teeth, gear 28 has sixteen teeth, gear 29 has twelve teeth, gear has twelve teeth and gear 31 has twenty-tom teeth on A, of its periphery.

The operation of this arrangement may be traced by assuming the watch is completely unwound and the indicator hand indicates zero on the scale 34. Upon winding, the gear 16 will make eight revolutions, gear 17 and the hollow arbor 18 will make four revolutions, gear 26, solid arbor 19 and gear 2'7 will also make four revolutions but in the opposite direction to that of the hollow arbor 18. Gears 28, 29 and 30 will make two revolutions, indicator wheel 31 will rotate of one circumference and the indicator hand will indicate 24 on the scale 34.

When the main spring is uncoiling during the unwinding and operates the train of the watch. the barrel 22 will make four revolutions in the same direction as the hollow arbor 18 made during winding. Gear 27 remains stationary. The moving barrel 22 moves gear 28 around gear 2'? four "times, whereby gear 28 makes two revolutions around its axis in the opposite direction to the retation of the barrel and since gear 29 is secure-:1 to gear 28 it makes the same rotation. At each complete rotation of the barrel 22, the gear 30 is ;moved by gear 29 six teeth in the barrel rotating direction. Consequently when barrel 22 completes "four rotations, gear 30 makes two and moves in- -dicator wheel 31 /3 of one circumference and the indicator hand 33 will have moved in the direction 20, 16, 12 down to zero on the scale 34.

It is pointed out that one advantage of the instant construction is that only three wheels namely gears 28, 29, gear 30 and wheel 31 are turning while the watch is unwinding. The power needed for their rotations is negligible and therefore has no influence on the operation of the device.

' By removing gears 24, 25 and 26 and fixing solid arbor 19 to the hollow arbor 18, which resembles a single solid arbor of the usual winding mechanism, the indicating device becomes inoperative. This is due to the fact that while winding the axis of each gear is relatively stationary, the full rotations of gear 27 are transmitted to gear 31,

but at the unwinding gear 2'! is stationary and the rotating barrel moves the axis of gears 28 and 29 around gears 27 and 30 so that the gears 28 and 29 in addition to rotary movements caused by the connection of gear 28 with the stationary gear 2'? also have a rotary movement by reason of being carried around with the rotating barrel. Consequently gear 28 cannot transmit reverse rotations equal to the amount transmitted while winding, and the result will be that the indicator hand 33 will not return to the starting point.

This defect may be better understood by a numerical example. Assume gear 16 has thirty teeth, gear 17 has sixty teeth, gear 27 has eight teeth, gear 28 has sixteen teeth, gear 29 has twelve teeth, gear 30 has twelve teeth and gear 31 has 36 teeth on its periphery and indicator hand -points to numeral 0 on the scale 34. For the winding, gear 16 is turned eight revolutions clockwise moving gear 17 four revolutions counterclockwise (Fig. 2) thus winding the spring and also moving gear 2'7 four revolutions counterclockwise (Figs. 3 and 4) moving gears 28, 29 two revolutions counterclockwise, gear 30 two revolutions counterclockwise and indicator wheel 31, twothirds of its circumference for moving the indicator hand clockwise from 24 to zero on the scale 34. So far the device has worked, but during unwinding, gear 27 will remain stationary, barrel 22 will make four revolutions counterclockwise (Fig. 3) moving 28 and 29 thru two counterclockwise rotations on their axis and simultaneously carrying gear 30 thru two revolutions also in the counterclockwise direction and finally indicator wheel 31 further in the clockwise direction instead of counterclockwise direction. The result will be, that indicating hand 33 will move over the ungraduated part of the scale in the direction 24,

20, 16 etc.

With my arrangement of hollow and solid arbors, it is not absolutely necessary to have the solid arbor 19 rotating in an opposite direction to that of the hollow arbor 18 during the winding. An operative indicating device is also obtainable by arranging solid arbor 19 to rotate at a different speed to that of hollow arbor 18, and in this case gear 24 meshes directly with gear 26.

In the following example I am citing one specimen of an arrangement showing an operative indicating device without gear 25. Assume gear 16 has thirty teeth, gear 17 has sixty teeth, gear 24 has twenty-f our teeth and is directly meshing with gear 26 having ninety-six teeth, gear 27 has nine teeth, gear 28 has nine teeth, gear 29 has twelve teeth, gear 30 has six teeth and indicator wheel 31 has twenty-four teeth on of its periphery. When the spring is unwound, the indicator hand 33 indicates 24 on the scale 34. During winding, when gears 16 and 24 make eight revolutions, gear 17 and hollow arbor 18 make .four revolutions, gear 26, solid arbor 19, gears 2'7, 28 and 29 make two revolutions, gear 30 will make four revolutions and indicator wheel 31 will make of one complete revolution and the indicator hand 33 will move from numeral 24 in the direction 20, 16 etc. down to zero on the scale 34. At the unwinding, the barrel 22 makes four revolutions around stationary gear 27 and carries gears 28 and 29. Since gears 27 and 28 are of the same size and gear 29 is twice the size of gear 30, the gear 30 will make four reverse revolutions and indicator hand 33 will move in the direction 4, 8 etc. up to 24 on the scale 34.

My invention can be applied equally to saIety barrels where only the head of the barrel rotates and one end of the spring is connected thereto. In this case the gears 28, 29 should be mounted on the head of the barrel and the rest of the arrangement should correspond with that of a conventional barrel.

Another feature of this invention is, that the teeth section 32 of gear 31 serves also as a winding limiting mechanism. especially for watches to have the winding and unwinding of the spring limited in order to obtain only the medium power of the spring for the operation. By winding several coils of the spring and setting one end of the teeth section 32 in mesh with gear 31, the winding becomes restricted to the teeth section 32 and an extrenie winding and unwinding is eliminated.

If my winding indicator is applied for large apparatus like phonographs, etc., the winding It is essential,

indicator wheel can be provided with suitable attachment to set mechanical or electrical alarm in action to announce that the spring needs rewinding.

While I have shown and described, the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein discl sod and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims,

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a winding indicator and limiting mecha nism, a hollow arbor, a spring barrel rotatively mounted thereon, inainspring having one end attached on the arbor and the other on the barrel, a solid arbor rotatively mounted. in the hollow arbor, a gear attached on the hollow arbor, a second gear meshing therewith and arran ed for winding the mainspring, a th rd gear fixed on the solid arbor, gears connected for rotation with the said second gear for rotating said third gear, a gear fixed on the solid arbor gear of different size rotatively men ed on the solid arbor, a pair of gears of different size fixed to each other and rotatively mop: .ed on said spring barrel, and meshing vldnally with the last mentioned fixed and se on the solid arbor, a wheel with t on a portion of its periphery meshing with the loose gear, and a pointer fixed on the wheel.

2. In a winding indicator and limiting niecnanism, a hollow arbor, a spring barrel rotatively mounted thereon, a mainspring having one end attached on the arbor and the other on the barrel, a solid arbor rotatively mounted in the hollow arbor, and extending therethru, a gear attached on the hollow arbor, a second ge r meshing therewith and arranged for winding the mainspring, a third gear fixed on the solid arbor, gears connected for rotation with t e second gear for rotating said third gear, a fixed on the solid arbor and another gear of different size rotatively mounted on the solid orbor, a pair of gears of different size fixed to each other and rotatively mounted on the said spring barrel, and mesl n ng individually with the last mentioned fixed and loose gears on the solid arbor, a wheel with teeth on a portion of its periphery meshing with the said loose and a.

pointer fixed on the wheel.

3. In a winding indicator and limiting mechanism, a hollow arbor, a spring barrel rotatively mounted thereon, a mainspring having one end attached on the arbor and the other on the barrel, a solid arbor rotatively mounted in the hol- 10w arbor and extending therethru, a attached on the hollow arbor, a second gear meshing therewith and arranged for winding the mainspring, a third gear fixed on one end or" the solid arbor, gears connected for rotation with the said second gear for rotating said third gear, a gear fixed on the other end of the solid arbor and another gear of different size rotatively mounted on the solid arbor, pair of gears of different size fixed to each other and rotativel mounted on the said spring barrel, and meshing individually with the last mentioned fixed and loose gears on the solid arbor, a wheel with teeth on a portion of its periphery meshing with the said loose gear, and a pointer fixed on the wheel.

4. In a winding indicator and limiting mecha nism, a hollow arbor, a spring barrel rotatively mounted thereon, a mainspring having one end attached on the arbor and the other on the barrel, a solid arbor rotatively mounted in the hollow arbor, a gear attached" on the hollow arbor, a second gear meshing therewith and: arranged for winding the mainspring, a third gear fixed on the solid arbor, gears connected for rotation with the said second. gear for rotating said 1rd gear, a gear fixed on the solid arbor and another 5 gear or" different size rotatively mounted on the solid arb r, a pair of gears of different size fixed}- to each other and rotatively' mounted on the said:

s' barrel, and meshing individually with the mentioned fixed and loose gears on the solid. 9m arbor, a wheel with teethon a portion of its pe-' riphery meshing with the said loose gear, a pointor 1 ed on the wheel, and a pair of plates arranged ior supporting the solid arbor, the said wheel, the second gear, and the gears connecting the second and third gears.

5. In a winding indicator and limiting mechanism, a hollow arbor, a spring barrel rotatively mounted thereon, a mainspring having one endattached on the arbor and the other on the bar rel, a solid arbor rotatively mounted in the hollow arbor, and extending therethru, a gear attached on the hollow arbor, a second gear meshing therewith and arranged for winding the mainspring, a third gear fixed on the solid arbor, gears connected for rotation with the said second gear for rotating said third gear, a gear fixed on the solid arbor and another gear of different size rotatively mounted on the solid arbor, a pair of gears of dlfierent size fixed to each other and rotatively mounted on the said spring barrel, and meshing individually with the last men oned fixed and loose gears on the solid ai'bo a wheel. formed with teeth on a portion of periphery for meshing with the said loose gear and an untoothed portion on its periphery for limit-- ing turning of the loose gear in order to set up a definite stopping of the main spring at the winding and unwinding respectively, and a poin er on the wheel.

6. In a winding indicator of the class described, a hollow arbor, a mainspring connected with the arbor, a barrel containing the mainspring, a solid arbor passing through the hollow arbor, gears connected to the hollow arbor for rotating the hollow arbor for winding the mainspring, and. means connected with the solid arbor for limiting the winding of the mainspring, said latter mentioned means comprising gears rotatively mounted on the barrel and a gear fixed on the solid arbor connected with said latter gears, and a gear loosely mounted on the solid arbor arranged to connect with said latter gears so as to limit the unw nding of the mainspring.

'7. In a winding indicator, a hollow arbor, a barrel rotatively mounted thereon, a mainspring connecting said hollow harbor and barrel, a gear secured to the hollow arbor facing one side of the barrel, a planetary gearing unit rotatively mounted on the opposite side of the barrel, a winding mechanism to rotate said gear for winding of the mainspring, a solid arbor to support rotatively the hollow arbor and to transmit rotations from said winding mechanism to the planetary gearing unit, means connecting said solid arbor with said winding mechanism and indicating means operatively connected with the planetary gearing unit.

LOUIS BORNFRIEND. 

